Abstract

The global challenge of ensuring citizens’ guaranteed access to information and knowledge lacks a unified understanding of the processes of societal informatization in contemporary scientific discourse. To establish meaningful theoretical foundations, it is essential to consider methodological approaches to studying the information society in historical retrospect, as this deepens our understanding of the phenomenon. Despite the variety of current approaches, they all share the view that the growing role of information and knowledge, as well as the production and widespread use of information and communication technologies (ICT) across key sectors of life, are crucial conditions for the development of the information society in the modern era. The hallmark of an information society is its high level of ICT development and usage (the level of societal informatization). ICT is the driving force behind socio-economic progress, and by studying the factors and patterns of its development in the context of Moscow’s society, we can identify trends that broadly influence the development of the information society. Analyzing its formation based on historical evidence and specific processes in Moscow allows us to propose a multidimensional factor model, incorporating generalized factors (dimensions) characterized by interconnected aspects (indicators). The data clearly point to six types of dimensions, each defined by its own set of indicators. A detailed examination of these generalized factors reveals regional disparities in the development of the information society across Russia. Notably, for several years, the groups of leading and lagging regions have remained relatively stable. This underscores the hypothesis that Russia’s progression toward an information society is not only shaped by specific historical factors but also largely depends on the involvement of citizens, businesses, government agencies, and local communities, as well as their level of engagement and readiness to adopt advanced technologies.